Characteristics of plasma induced by interaction of a free-oscillated laser pulse with a coal target in air and combustible gas

Plasma in the air is successfully induced by a free-oscillated Nd:YAG laser pulse with a peak power of 10(2-3) W. The initial free electrons for the cascade breakdown process are from the ablated particles from the surface of a heated coal target, likewise induced by the focused laser beam. The laser field compensates the energy loss of the plasma when the corresponding temperature and the images are investigated by fitting the experimental spectra of B-2 Sigma(+) -> X-2 Sigma(+) band of CN radicals in the plasma with the simulated spectra and a 4-frame CCD camera. The electron density is estimated using a simplified Kramer formula. As this interaction occurs in a gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, the formation and development of the plasma are weakened or restrained due to the chaining branch reaction in which the OH radicals are accumulated and the laser energy is consumed. Moreover, this laser ignition will initiate the combustion or explosion process of combustible gas and the minimum ignition energy is measured at different initial pressures. The differences in the experimental results compared to those induced by a nanosecond Q-switched laser pulse with a peak power of 10(6-8) W are also discussed. (C) 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ignition of single coal particle in a hot furnace under normal- and micro-gravity condition

An experimental study on ignition and combustion of single particles was conducted at normal gravity (1-g) and microgravity (l-g) for three high volatile coals with initial diameter of 1.5 and 2.0 mm, respectively. The non-intrusive twin-color pyrometry method was used to retrieve the surface temperature of the coal particle through processing the images taken by a color CCD camera. At the same time, a mathematical model considering thermal conduction inside the coal particle was developed to simulate the ignition process. Both experiments and modeling found that ignition occurred homogeneously at the beginning and then heterogeneously for the testing coal particles burning at l-g. Experimental results confirmed that ignition temperature decreased with increasing volatile content and increasing particle size. However, contradicted to previous studies, this study found that for a given coal with certain particle size, ignition temperature was about 50–80 K lower at l-g than that at 1-g. The model predictions agreed well with the l-g experimental data on ignition temperature. The criterion that the temperature gradient in the space away from the particle surface equaled to zero was validated to determine the commence of homogeneous ignition. Thermal conduction inside the particle could have a noticeable effect for determining the ignition temperature. With the consideration of thermal conduction, the critical size for the phase transient from homogeneous to heterogeneous is about 700 lm at ambient temperature 1500 K and oxygen concentration 0.23. 2009 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaporation of Ethanol Drops on a Heated Substrate Under Microgravity Conditions

We present in this paper results obtained from a parabolic flight campaign regarding ethanol sessile drop evaporation under reduced gravity conditions. Drops are created using a syringe pump by means of injection through a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) substrate. The drops are recorded using a video camera and an infrared camera to observe the thermal motion inside the drop and on the heating substrate. The experimental set-up presented in this paper enables the simultaneous visualization and access to the heat flux density that is transferred to the drop using a heat flux meter placed between the heating block and the PTFE substrate. We evidence original thermal spreading phenomena during the ethanol drop creation on a heated PTFE substrate. The drop exhibits specific behaviour which is discussed here. This work is performed in the frame of a French-Chinese collaboration (project IMPACHT) for future experiments in a Chinese scientific satellite.

Instabilities in a non-transferred direct current plasma torch operated at reduced pressure

Using an oscilloscope, a high-speed video camera and a double-electrostatic probe system, the periodicity and amplitude of the fluctuations in arc voltage, jet luminance and ion saturation current of a plasma jet were monitored to investigate various sources of instabilities and their effects in a non-transferred dc plasma torch operated at reduced pressure. The results show that besides a 300 Hz main fluctuation inherited from the power supply, arc voltage fluctuation of 3–4 kHz with an amplitude less than 5% of the mean voltage was mainly affected by the total gas flow rate. The arc voltage fluctuation can affect the energy distribution of the plasma jet which is detectable by electrostatic probes and a high-speed video camera. The steadiness of energy transfer is also affected by the laminar or turbulent flow state of the plasma.

Plasma and electrode emissions from a 1 kW hydrogen-nitrogen arcjet thruster

Arc root behavior affects the energy transfer and nozzle erosion in an arcjet thruster. To investigate the development of arc root attachment in 1 kW class N2 and H2-N2 arcjet thrusters from the time of ignition to the stably working condition, a kinetic series of end-on view images of the nozzle obtained by a high-speed video camera was analyzed. The addition of hydrogen leads to higher arc voltage levels and the determining factor for the mode of arc root attachment was found to be the nozzle temperature. At lower nozzle temperatures, constricted type attachment with unstable motions of the arc root was observed, while a fully diffused and stable arc root was observed at elevated nozzle temperatures.

大熊猫“盛林1号”放归监测

大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)是我国特有的珍稀濒危物种，国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物，被称为“国宝”。目前，大熊猫被局限在我国中西部的岷山、邛崃、大相岭、小相岭、凉山和秦岭6大山系中。对大熊猫的保护和研究，我国政府、保护生物学科研人员、社会各界及国际保护组织都做了大量的工作。根据全国三次大熊猫调查结果显示，大熊猫栖息地片段化现象依然存在，形成多个隔离的大熊猫小种群。尤其在小相岭、大相岭、岷山B和岷山C种群，大熊猫数量较少，且栖息地破碎，面临较大威胁。有的山系大熊猫种群数量些已低于最小可存活大熊猫种群的数量，如果不采取人工措施，这些种群的大熊猫存在灭绝的危险。 将圈养大熊猫放归野外，以补充野外大熊猫种群数量，增加其遗传多样性，复壮和扩大野生大熊猫种群，是大熊猫人工繁育的最终目标。为降低放归的风险性，在放归人工繁育大熊猫前，将救护存活的野生大熊猫先有计划放归野外，并对其进行跟踪监测，对积累大熊猫放归经验，进一步研究大熊猫野外生物学习性，丰富放归地大熊猫种群遗传多样性，为人工繁育大熊猫放归野外夯实基础，具有十分重要的意义。2005年8月8日，国家林业局和四川省人民政府联合将救护野生大熊猫“盛林1号”放归于龙溪－虹口国家级自然保护区内岷山B大熊猫种群栖息地，并进行系统监测研究。成功的积累了一些放归经验和放归大熊猫的生物学资料，为人工繁育大熊猫的放归奠定了一定基础。 2005年8月至2007年6月期间，我们采用GPS无线电项圈、粪便DNA检测和红外线自动触发相机陷阱的方法，对大熊猫“盛林１号”进行了追踪监测，获得了以下成果： 1.通过分析“盛林1号”放归后了活动趋势和采用两种贝叶斯方法，利用目前五大山系的已有微卫星遗传数据，检测“盛林１号”与五大山系的遗传关系的远近，推测其来源于邛崃山系的可能性较大。 2.收集了大量“盛林1号”野外生境选择数据。我们认为“盛林1号”放归后经历了应急期、初步稳定期、长途迁徙期三个阶段（这可能是今后放归大熊猫都必经的三个时期），并与当地大熊猫种群已发生交流。目前“盛林１号”仍在寻找适合的巢域。 3.结合过去监测数据分析，在放归区域大熊猫和羚牛尽管同域分布，但由于食性不同，对微生境选择还是有着很大差异，因此保护管理对策要有针对性。 4.“盛林1号”的放归是成功的。救护大熊猫异地放归工作应继续开展，但要改进放归后的监测技术。要改进现有对人工饲养大熊猫野化培训方法和放归方式，才能真正将人工繁殖个体放归野外。 Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an endangered species endemic to China. It was listed as National Protected I Class Species and is crowned as “National treasure” of China. The populations of Giant Panda are limited in 6 mountain system in Center-West of China, i.e. Mingshan, Mt. Qionglai, Mt. Daxiangling，Mt. Xiaoxiangling, Mt. Liangshan and Mt. Qinling. The results of the Third National Survey on Giant Panda showed that the habitats of Giant Panda is still fracted and Giant Panda population is divided into several isolated small populations. Population B from Mt. Daxiangling, Mt. Xiaoxiangling and Mt. Mingshan and Population C from Mt. Mingshan are very small with very fracted habitat and are more endangered. Several populations in those mountain systems are smaller than Minimum Viable Population of Giant Panda. It is very possible that those populations will be extinct without artificial help. The ultimate Goal of Reintroduction caged Giant Panda to wild is to increase wild population size and genetics diversity and rebuild and expand wild Giant Panda population. It is of significant to return rescued wild Giant Panda to wild and monitor their behavior before reintroduction artificial reproduced Giant Panda. It will increase our knowledge on reintroduction of Giant Panda. Aug 8th, 2005, “Shenglin 1”, a rescued wild Giant Panda was returned to Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reservoir, which is habitat of Giant Panda Population B of Mt. Mingshan. A systematic monitor was carried out on “Shenglin 1”, and the successful return enriched our biological knowledge on Giant Panda reintroduction. It will be very help for future conservation work on reintroduce artificial reproduced Giant Panda. “Shenglin 1” was tracked with GPS collar, DNA in feces and infrared-trigged camera from Aug 2005 to Jun 2007. 1. Locomotion behavior and microsatellites comparison with Giant Panda from the 5 mountain systems indicated that “Shenglin 1” is possibly from Mt. Qionglai. 2. Habitat usage of “Shenglin 1” was studied. It was suggested that there were 3 phases after return, i.e. emergency response, preliminary stable phase and long distance locomotion, which could be a general process for other returned Giant Panda. It was indicated that there was some interaction between “Shenglin 1” and local population. “Shenglin 1” is seeking for suitable home range now. 3. Monitor data also indicated that microhabitat preference of Giant Panda and takin (Budorcas taxicolor) are different because of different diet, though they are sympatric. It was suggested that conservation management for the two species should be plan in particular. 4. The reintroduction of “Shenglin 1” is a successful case. The program of return rescued Giant Panda to other habitats is of value and should be continued. However, more improvement is needed for the monitor technique. More improvement is need for feralization and returning before we return artificial reproduced Giant Panda to wild.

Constraints on the symmetry energy and neutron skins from pygmy resonances in Ni-68 and Sn-132

Correlations between the behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy, the neutron skins, and the percentage of energy-weighted sum rule (EWSR) exhausted by the pygmy dipole resonance (PDR) in Ni-68 and Sn-132 are investigated by using different random phase approximation (RPA) models for the dipole response, based on a representative set of Skyrme effective forces plus meson-exchange effective Lagrangians. A comparison with the experimental data has allowed us to constrain the value of the derivative of the symmetry energy at saturation. The neutron skin radius is deduced under this constraint.

基于安全芯片的防伪数码相机

为了改进现有防伪数码相机不能处理通过翻拍伪造数码照片的缺陷,提出了一种新的基于安全芯片的防伪数码相机架构。在拍摄时将所拍摄的区域分成多个小单元,并用对焦测距系统测量各个单元到相机的距离。用安全芯片对图像元数据、图像内容及距离信息进行数字签名,并将签名内容及距离信息都保存在图像文件的元数据里。通过验证数字签名有效且距离信息不完全相等来保证图片的真实可信。该防伪数码相机能同时发现照片在拍摄后被篡改和翻拍问题,所拍摄照片真实可信。

散景效果的真实感绘制

针对现有方法绘制的散景效果真实感较差的问题,提出一种基于几何光学理论的散景效果真实感绘制方法.该方法以光线传播的折射定律为基础,利用序列光线追踪方法对相机镜头的光学成像特性进行精确建模;对相机镜头的内部结构进行精确模拟,包括孔径光阑和渐晕光阑,以绘制出由孔径形状和渐晕共同作用的散景效果;利用几何光学理论和序列光线追踪方法精确计算出出射光瞳的位置和大小,以辅助光线采样,提高光线追踪效率.绘制结果表明,利用该方法能够绘制出较为逼真的散景效果,正确模拟了孔径形状和渐晕对散景效果的影响,并具有较高的光线追踪效率.

基于人脸检测的自动摄像跟踪系统开发研究

自动摄像跟踪系统，是一种通过传感器检测或者数字图像处理的方法，控制摄像机自动的对运动中的人物或特定物体实施跟踪拍摄的系统，融合了计算机网络通信、计算机视觉、传感器网络等多个领域的技术，包含一系列软件和硬件设备，可以广泛运用在安全保卫视频监控，会议摄像，课堂和讲座摄像，表演摄像等场景，是近年来需求增长较大的领域。 人脸检测是数字图像处理和计算机视觉的一个分支问题，指的是在输入的图像中判断是否有人脸存在，并确定出所有人脸的位置、大小甚至姿势朝向的过程，作为进一步控制和处理的依据。这是计算机视觉方向最热门的技术专题之一，拥有非常广阔的应用空间。 目前还没有成熟的自动跟踪摄像系统应用于安全保卫或一般民用摄像领域，已有的一些类似系统也不能完全达到自动跟踪人物摄像的要求，性能距离全自动化无人干涉的跟踪摄像还有相当差距。 本文旨在运用计算机网络作为图像数据和控制信息媒体，运用数字图像处理领域计算机视觉中人脸检测和人脸跟踪的技术作为自动人物识别的依据，设计人物检测、人物跟踪、摄像机自动跟踪拍摄、人物位置运动估算、简单运动估计等算法策略，研究和开发一套完整的自动摄像跟踪系统软件，支持网络远程访问和控制，在无需人为操作和调整的情况下，实现对人物脸部自动跟踪拍摄的功能。这个系统适用于一般需求的安保视频监控和课堂自动摄像的应用。 本系统相对于已有的性能较好的类似系统——红外视频监控系统有许多明显优势，在达到很好的智能化、实时性、响应速度和准确性的同时，实现了设备的简化，大大降低了成本；同时在现场部署时不需要重新配置，后期维护简便；并且能够实现连续位置跟踪；系统稳定性优良等等。

Non-goal scene analysis for soccer video

The broadcast soccer video is usually recorded by one main camera, which is constantly gazing somewhere of playfield where a highlight event is happening. So the camera parameters and their variety have close relationship with semantic information of soccer video, and much interest has been caught in camera calibration for soccer video. The previous calibration methods either deal with goal scene, or have strict calibration conditions and high complexity. So, it does not properly handle the non-goal scene such as midfield or center-forward scene. In this paper, based on a new soccer field model, a field symbol extraction algorithm is proposed to extract the calibration information. Then a two-stage calibration approach is developed which can calibrate camera not only for goal scene but also for non-goal scene. The preliminary experimental results demonstrate its robustness and accuracy. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oriented crystallization process of polypropylene fractions

Melting recrystallization processes of melt-sheared films of polypropylene (S28C) fractions have been investigated in situ by polarized optical microscope equipped with CCD camera and hot-stage. Actually, the morphological developments in the melting recrystallization are partially reappearance of oriented crystallization processes during melt-shearing the fractions, which is due to a memory effect of oriented structure of polymer. For low molecular weight fraction, only incomplete spherulites with some orientation along shear direction are observed in the melting recrystallization processes of the sheared films. For middle molecular weight fractions, extended chain fiber crystals(or bands) are formed first at higher temperatures, and the bands can act as self-nuclei (i. e., row nuclei), resulting in epitaxial growth of chain-folded lamellae(or fibril), i. e., the formation of cylindrites, with further decrease of the crystallization temperature. For high molecular weight fraction, however, it is not possible to shear the melt film because of its high melt viscosity. When the low molecular weight fraction in which no fiber crystals or cylindrites are observed, are mixed with small amount(about 1%-2%) of the high molecular weight fraction, quite large number of cylindrites are formed during the melting recrystallization process of its sheared film, which implies that the component of high molecular weight plays an important role in the formation of cylindrites during the shear process of polypropylene.

Fine sediment resuspension dynamics in Moreton Bay

A comprehensive field study has been undertaken to investigate sediment resuspension dynamics in the Moreton Bay, a large semi-enclosed bay situated in South East Queensland, Australia. An instrumented tripod, which housed three current meters, three OBS sensors and one underwater video camera, was used to collect the field data on tides, currents, waves and suspended sediment concentrations at four sites (Sites 1, 2, 4, and 5) in the bay. Site I was located at the main entrance, Site 2 at the central bay in deep water, and Sites 4 and 5 at two small bays in shallow water. The bed sediment was fine sand (d(50) = 0. 2 mm) at Site 1, and cohesive sediment at the other three sites. Based on the collected field data, it is found that the dominant driving forces for sediment resuspension are a combination of ocean swell and tidal currents at Site 1, tidal currents at Site 2, and wind-waves at Sites 4 and 5. The critical bed shear stress for cohesive sediment resuspension is determined as 0. 079 Pa in unidirectional flow at Site 2, and 0. 076 Pa in wave-induced oscillatory flow at Site 5.

面向位姿测量的摄像机标定方法及应用研究

在工业、航天、医疗等许多领域中，经常需要测量两个空间物体坐标系间的相对位姿。位姿测量方法一般包括声纳或激光测距、GPS、视觉方法等多种方法，其中视觉方法由于其信息量大、处理速度快等特点发挥了越来越重要的作用。在基于模型的单目视觉位姿测量中，位姿测量系统的测量精度与摄像机标定误差、图像坐标的检测误差、目标模型的测量误差等许多因素有关，而摄像机标定误差是影响位姿测量精度的一个主要误差来源，是测量系统内在的不可避免的误差。 实际应用中，提高整个系统的测量精度是三维视觉测量的一项重要任务，而摄像机标定精度的提高将有效地提高位姿测量精度。针对传统的摄像机标定方法在实际工程应用中存在的问题，以提高基于模型的单目视觉位姿测量系统的测量精度为目标，利用理论推导和仿真实验相结合的方法，首先通过从几何意义求解摄像机内外参数，深刻理解摄像机各参数的物理意义；然后在此基础上，重点研究摄像机标定空间的选择、标定参数误差与位姿测量误差之间以及标定参数误差与测量空间之间的关系分析；最后在理论研究的基础上，针对工程应用提出摄像机标定的相应策略，以提高整个系统的测量精度。 首先，在基于几何意义的摄像机内外参数求解方法研究中，从摄像机投影变换矩阵出发，通过几何思路求解摄像机内外参数；同时在此求解过程中，从几何意义推导得到描述透视投影变换的 矩阵必须满足的约束条件。这对深刻理解摄像机各参数的物理意义及其几何关系，对从直观几何方面分析摄像机参数对位姿精度的影响有着一定的意义。 其次，针对标定空间对位姿测量精度的影响，首先推导出标定空间与标定参数误差之间的关系，在此基础上，再给出标定参数误差和位姿测量结果误差之间的关系。实验结果表明：不管测试目标的成像范围如何，在满视场范围内标定时标定误差最小，从而可以得到更高的位姿测量精度。研究结果可为实际工程应用中测量系统的摄像机标定提供理论依据，对标定点的布置和摆放具有指导意义。 最后，在摄像机标定参数误差对位姿测量精度的影响研究中，通过理论推导结合仿真实验及几何解释说明，使用误差传播的方法，建立了位姿测量误差受摄像机标定参数误差影响的数学模型，分析了摄像机标定参数误差与位姿测量误差的关系，得到如下结论：测量距离方向位置精度主要受焦比误差和摄像机外参数光轴方向平移量误差的影响；姿态角精度主要受主点误差和摄像机外参数旋转角误差的影响。在标定参数误差与测量空间之间的关系方面，摄像机内外参数的误差在不同测量距离有着不同的影响。近距离时，应主要考虑外参数光轴方向平移量误差的影响；而远距离时，应主要考虑内参数焦比误差的影响。该结论可以指导摄像机标定方法的选择，根据不同的情况采用不同的算法以满足实际精度需求，从而达到优化系统设计，提高整个定位系统性能的目的，对于指导视觉位姿测量系统的工程应用具有一定的意义。

基于单相机的全向立体视觉关键技术研究

获取全向三维信息对移动机器人导航和行动规划具有重要意义。尽管有许多其他方法可以完成这一任务，如超声传感器和激光测距仪，但是折反射立体视觉系统在大多数情况下可以获得更高的精度和更大的视场，并且不消耗额外的能量。本文采用了一种新型的折反射全向立体视觉光学装置(OSVOD)进行立体视觉的研究，OSVOD是由两个双曲面镜和一个透视相机所组成的系统，能够由单幅图像实现立体视觉。 本文重点对单相机全向立体视觉系统的标定、单幅图像匹配、运动估计和多目匹配这三项最关键的技术进行了研究。在系统标定方面，给出了一种包括OSVOD中相机和镜面位置关系在内的系统参数的标定方法。该方法利用空间坐标已知的标定点在像平面上成的像，结合系统成像模型反算出标定点的空间坐标，再利用标定点的已知空间坐标和反算出的空间坐标建立方程，运用基于Levenberg-Marquardt的反向传播算法标定相机与反射镜面间的安装偏差。该标定方法可推广到所有的折反射成像系统。 在单幅图像匹配方面，针对系统获取的立体图像对之间成像比例存在较大的差异和畸变的问题，将图像展开成柱面投影图像和俯视投影图像，并提出了一种三步算法，首先匹配非歧义的点，从而将匹配划分为小的独立的子问题，并且每条极线只匹配到最远的特征点，从而避免在远端的不可靠匹配。在随后的动态规划算法中，设计了一个特定的能量函数，对不同的纹理强度和置信程度分别加权，得到了可靠的全向致密深度图。 在运动估计与多目匹配方面，以Harris角点做为待匹配的特征，由相关性得到初匹配结果。该结果中不可避免地存在误匹配，采用随机采样一致算法来得到运动估计。完成运动估计后，利用不同位置得到的图像进行了基于边缘检测的多目匹配，快速准确地获取了障碍物信息。